Gear-lapping machine



May s, 192s.

D. F. DoMlzl GEAR LAPPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 17, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I A gummi M'M mi.

D. F. DOMIZI GEAR LAPPING MACHINE 'May 8, 1928.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 17f- 1924 Wmv D. F. DOMIZI GEAR LAPPING MACHINE May s, 192s. 1,668,840

Filed Sept. 17. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 @y k\\\\\\\\f Patented May 8, 1928.`

j `Davrn r. Domzr, or CLEVELAND, omo.

GEAR-Lamme MACHINE Application led September 17, 1924.` `Serial No. 738,134.

rl`his invention relates to gear i lapping machines, and more particularly to amachine in which a pair of mating gears may be adjusted accurately into proper meshing n engagement with each other and in which the gears may be caused to act one upon the other by applying a `coating of abrasive vmaterial to the `teeth of one or both gears whereby when the gears are driven surface i portions of the teeth are worn away in such manner that a substantially perfect meshing engagement may be obtained between the mating gears. j j The machine herein disclosed is designed l particularly for lapping the bevel ring and driving gears of the differential gearing employed in automobile transmissions.

An object of the present invention is to provide means whereby ythe gears to be apped may be quickly and accurately adjusted into proper mesh with eachother prior to the lapping operation.

A further object is torprovide simple and eliicient means for detachably and rigidly connecting the gears to the .driving and driven spindles. j

A further object is to provide convenient means for applying `a load tothe driven spindle and for varying such` load at will as desired.

A further object is l protecting the operator from flying particles of abrasive material, the protecting means being so designed as not to interfere with the inspection of thegears during operation or with the application of the abrasive material thereto, the protective means alsoA serving to` prevent the abrasive material from getting into the bearings of the in machine.

the invention may be said to comprise the machine as illustrated in the accompanyingV drawing hereinafter described and particuj skilled in the art to which the invention Japi pertains.

panying drawings specification in which Fig. l isl a Vside elevation of a machine embodying the invention, a portion of the movable spindle housing and of its adjusting and supporting means being broken away land shown in sec bolts 2a extend'are large enough to to provide means for With the above and other objects inview,

larly set forth in the appended claims, to.`

. Reference should be had to the accom# forming a part of this tion; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of thermachine with ay portion of the fixed spindle housing broken away and shown in section; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine; Figs. 4 and 5 are a side and a front elevation respectively of the driving head and operating motor; Fig. 6 is a central vertical section taken through the driving head longitudinally thereof.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Y

inwliich the same parts are designated the same reference numerals throughout, the

i machine is mounted u aon a supporting stand l upon the top of which is mounted a spindle housing 2 which has a limited vertical and angular adjustment and a laterall adjus-,table spindle liousinfir 3, the spindle lionsing 2 being disposed longitudinally of the stand and the adjustable housing 3 being disposed transversely thereof.

The housing 2 is rigidly clamped to the stand 1 by means of bolts 2 and is mounted for slight angular adjustment about a pivot `pin 2b carried by the stand. The openings in the base of the housing through which the ermit the slight angular adjustment. A united vertical adjustment of the housing may be obtained by the use of shimsfl ofthe desired thickness. j

The adjustable housing 3 isr mounted upon `a carriage 4 which isadjustable longitudinally of the supporting stand '1. In order that the VgearsV When adjusted into pro er meshing engagement may be rigidly hel in the positions to which they lare adjusted `means are provided for rigidly clamping th'eadjustable housing 3 in any position to which it may be desired.

The carriage 4 is provided with means whereby it'may be rigidly clamped in any adjusted position` to the fixed supporting stand 1. To this end the carriage 4 carries a bolt 5 which is rigidly secured to the carriage 4 and extends downwardly through a longitudinal slot 6 in the top of the supportl ing stand. The bolt 5 has a nut 7 at its lower end to which is connected an adjusting lever @which` projects through a wall 'of the supporting stand. Surroundingl the bolt 5 and resting'upon the nut 7 is a sleeve 9 which carries at its upper end a clamping plate 10 which is moved when the nut 7 is turned in a tightening direction into clamping engagement with the top wall of the supportstand. A When-theclamping plate 10 is released the carriage 4 may be adjusted longitudinally but when the clamping plate is held in clamping engagement with the top wall of the supporting stand, the carriage 4 is rigidly held against longitudinal movement. At its forward end the carriage 4 is provided with an integral bracket 11 which extends downwardly in front of the upper portion ofthe stand 1 and Jforms a support for a lead screw 12 by means of which the carriage 4 may be adjusted longitudinally of the trame. vThe lead screw 12 is journaledv in a bushing 13 secured in the bracket 11 and is provided with an inner thrust iange or collar 14 bearing against the inner end of the bushing 13, the outer end 15 of the lead screw being reduced and having rigidly secured thereto ahand wheel 16, thehub of which bears against the outer end of the bushing 13. The hand wheel 16 is provided with a handle 17 by means of which may be .turned and has a graduated rim 18 which cooperates with a stationary pointer 19 which is clamped to the bushing 13 and serves to indicate the amount of angular movement imparted to the hand wheel 16. The lead screw 12 passes through and has threaded engagement with a nut 2O fixed in the end wall of the supporting stand l.` The carriage 4 may be adjusted longitudinally of the frame by means of' the lead screw 12` the extent of such movement being accurately ascertainableby means of the graduations upon the hand wheel and after being so adjusted lthe carriage 4 may be rigidly secured in adjusted position by means of the clamping bolt 5.

The housing 3 is transversely adjustable upon the carriage4, the carriage 4 being provided with suitable transverse grooves to receive transversely extending ribs on the bottom of the housing 3. For adjusting the housing 3 the carriage 4 has an outwardly and upwardly extending bracket at the outer end thereof, and journaled in this bracket is a lead screw 22 which is rotatably mounted within a bushing 23 secured in thc bracket 21. The lead screw 22 is held against longii-v tudinal movement with respect to 'the bushing 23 by means of a thrust flange or collar -24dwhich bears against the inner end of the bushing 23. the outer end 25 of the lead screw 22 being reduced and having secured thereon a hand wheel 26, the hub of which bears against the outer end of the bushing 23. The hand wheel 26 is provided withva suitable handle 27 by means of which it may be turned to rotate the lead screw to adjust the housing 3. In order that the extent of adjustment of the housing 3 may be accurately determined, the hand wheel 26 has a graduated rim 28 which cooperates with a fixed pointer 29 clamped to the bushing 23. The lead screw 22 extents hrough and has a threaded engagement with a nut 3() fixed to rigidly clamp the housing 3 in any adjusted position on the carriage 4. j.

A tubular spindle 36 extends through the housing 2 longitudinally oi the supporting stand and is ournaled in a thrust bearing 37 in a rearward extension 38 of the housing and in an inwardly extending boss 39 carried by the front end wall of the housing. At the front end of the housing there is a ring gear supporting head 40 which has an integral tubular shank 41 which tapers rearwardly and tits within the tapered interior et the tubular spindle 36. Attached toV the outer tace of the head 40 is a centering disk 42 of a diameter to tit within a ring gear secured to the head 40. A clamping plate or disk 43 cooperates with the head 40 to clamp a ring gear to the head, the clamp-V ing dislr 43 being provided with finger holes 44 to 'facilitate rotation by hand. The clamping plate 43 has an interiorly threaded hub sleeve 45 which receives one threaded end of a clamping spindle 46 which extends through the inner tubular spindle 41 and carries nuts 47 at its rear end which engage with the fianged collar 47a fitting within the rear cnd of the tubular spindle 36 and bearing against the rear end thereof. the nuts 47 serving to rigidly clamp the disk 43 against the outer face of the ring gear 43 to rigidly secure the ring gear in place on the head 40 and to clamp the head 40 to thel spindle.

The spindle 3G, head 40, clamping disk 43 and ring gear 48 rotate as a unit and the spindle 36 within the housing 2 carries a large spiral gear 49 which serves to drive a transversely disposed countersha'lit 5() journaled in the housing above the spindle, the countersha'ft 5() being provided with a small spiral gear 51 meshing with the large spiral gear 49. At its forward end in trent of the housing 2 the countershaft 50 has fixed thereto a brake drum 52 and cooperating with the brake drum 52 is a brake band 53 which has its ends projecting beneath the drum, one of the ends 54 projecting downwardly and secured between anchor lugs 55 projecting from the front face of the housing 2. Thefiee end 56 of the brake hand lies alongside the fixed end 54 and the ends 54 and 56 4are engaged by a tightening bolt 57 which extends through the two ends and is provided at its outer end with adjusting nuts 58 by means of which the relative movement between the two ends oi the brake ill) jlaterally projecting handle 6l by means of which the bolt may be turned. By turning the handle 61 in a downward direction the cam head 60 acts against thecollar 59 forcing the same inwardly against the free endy 56 of the brake band drawing the `band into engagement with the brake drum 52. In

the operation ot the machine the spindle 36 is driven through the ring gear 48 and imparts arotation at ajhigher rate of speed to the countershat't 50. f By operating the lever ltheoperator can apply the desired braking force to the brake band and, since the speed ofthe brake drum 52 is greater than that of the spindle 36, a relatively light pressure upon the handle 6l is sufficient to apply a relatively heavy load tothe spin` dle 36. t

Journaled inthe movable housingv 3 is a tubular spindle 62 which is disposedfsvith its axis in a plane with the axis of thespindle 36 and at right angles to said spindle. The tubular spindle 62 is journaled at its` rear end in a thrust bearing 63 mounted in a rearward extension 64 tothe housing 3 and at its forward end in a boss64 extending inwardly from the front wall of the housing 3. Within-the housing 3 the spindle 62 has fixed thereto a belt pulley 66 which isiadapt- `ed to receive a belt running over an overhead i line shaft,the housing 3 being provided with openings`67 through which the belt passes. The opening through the' tubular spindle 62 is tapered rearwardly adjacent its forward end and is adapted to receive a tapered sleeve 68 `within which fits the tapered stub' shaft69 of the small beveled driving gear 7 O. The stub shaft 69 has a reduced threaded rear end 61 which isscrewed 'into aycoupling sleeve 72 which is keyed to the interior of thespindle 62. A clamping spindle 73 isscrewed into the rear end of tlieroupling sleeve 72, extends through a bushing 74 -securedin the rear end of the tubular spindle 62 and is pro# vided withL clamping nuts 75 at the rear of thebushing 7 Lthy means of which the clamping spindle 7 35`coup1ing sleeve 72 and stub shaft 69 may be drawn rearwardly to tight? lv clamp the" tapered sleeve 68 in the spindle 62 and the tapered stub shaft 69 within the tapered "sleeve 68. `pinion is thus rigidly clamped to the spindle 62 and rotates therewith. To protect workmen passingr along the rear of the machine a guard plate 76'is secured'over therear end j sma The small beveled *of the clamping spindle 73 by meansof a U- shaped bracket 77 rigidly secured tothe rearward extension 64 of the housing 3. `Se

cured to the housing 2 behind the head 40 andring gear 48 is a guard plate 78 whichis provide with a flange 79 alongits upper and outer edges which project over the periphery `of the ring gear'so thatany line particles of abrasive material which may be thrown from the ring gear strike against the'flanges 79 and cannot e thrown into the face of the operator. Behind the small gear 70 and secured to the movable housing 3, there `is aV guardY plate 8O whichlias flanges 81 along its periphery of the gear 70 and serve to deiiect any particles of abrasive material thrown from the gear 70. Toprevent the passage of abrarsive material into the bearings of `the sleeve 68 immediately behind the gear 7 0 and overlies the central opening in the` guard plate 80 through which the spindle projects.

Mounted on the stand 1 beneaththe guard `plates 78 and 80 is a drip pan 83 which catches the material thrown from the gears and deiected by the guard plates. The drip pan 83 also serves as a container for the abrasive material and liquid with which it is mixed for application to the gears.

In the operation of the machine the rin gear 48 and small driving gear 70 of a` di ferential gearing are clamped to their respective spindles in the manner above fdescribed. The housing 3 is then adjusted by means of the leadv screws 12 and 22 until the gear 70 meshes with the ring gear 48 with the .desired `amount to `back lash. This adjustment may bemade very accurately by utilizing the graduations of the hand wheels 16 and 26 in making `the adjust-ments ofthe housing 3. i mechanism the gear maybe coated with a V liquid containing abrasive material such as einery powder and upon rot-ation Vofthe driving spindle 62 the brake band 53 may be applied to impose the desired `load upon the driven spindle 36. As the gears 48 and 7 0 are `driven in mesh with each other, the

teeth thereof are abraided by the abrasive material with which they are coated andthe gears thus grind themselves into proper meshing engagement. i The abrasive material may beapplied to the gears during theA operation of the machineby holding a paint brush which has been dippedjin the mixture of liquid andabrasive material adjacent the inner edges of the teeth. The liquid and abrasive material `thus applied is caused to fiow by centrifugal force outwardly into-the Before start-ing the driving t gear a guard disk 82 is `secured to a.

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spaces between the teeth of the gears. This operation will be continued until the gears operate noiselessly` and without any apparent interference.` The inachine-fshown herein may *bel used vin l.connection Awith the nio testing machine shown in my co-pending application Serial No. 729,667, filed Aug. 2,

- 1924, in Which sound intensifying means is employed to detect imperfections not other-V wise discernible.

It is in some instances desirable to mount the driving motor directly upon the machine and it is also advantageous to provide for a slight vertical adjustment oi one of the spindles with respect to the other. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 shoiv a head ior the driving spindle With a driving motor mounted thereon and provided with means for adjusting the driving spindle vertically.

The driving motor 84 carries a pulley 85 on the shaft thereof over which runs the driving belt 86, the motor 811 being supported vupon a platform S7 carried at the upper ends of posts 88 which are slidahly mounted at their ends in the spinello hous'ing 3V and yieldably supported by springs 89 which are interposed between the top ot the housing and collars 90 adjustably secured to the ment by means of a Worm 92 meshing with a worm gear 93 formed ontlie periphery of the bushing, the worm 92 being carried by a shaft 94 Whichvhas a hand wheel 95 out-A side the casing. The Worm 92 may be rotated to turn the bushing 91 to adjust the spindle 62 to the desired height and the bushing 91 maybe secured in adjusted posit-ion by means of a. nut 96 which is threaded on the forward end of the bushing and is adapted to be screwed against the rorit face of the housing 3a. The bushing 91 is provided With a circumferentially extendr Ying slot 97 to receive Vthe belt 86, the slot 97 being of suilicient length to permit the necessary angular' adjustmentof the bushing 91. After the spindle has been adjusted to the proper height the head 8 which is mounted exactly as the head 3 in Figs. 1 to 3 may be adjusted-in a direction longitudinally of the spindle 62 or transversely with respect thereto to bring the small gear into proper mesh with t-he large gear on the spindle 36.

Having described my invention, I claim: 1. In a machine of the character described, a. supporting stand, a spindle mounted thereon, means for detachably securing a gear to said spindle, a second spindle'movably mounted on said stand, means 4for detachably securing a gear to said last mentioned spindle, means for adjusting the movable spindle longitudinally of the first mentioned spindle or transversely thereof to bring the detachably secured gears on the spindles into mesh, driving means connected vfith one of the spindles, a brake connected with the other of the spindles, and manually operable means for applying the brake by Which the pressurebetiveen the teeth ot the intermeshing gears on the spindles may be varied as desired during operation of the machine.

In a machine of the character described, aV supporting stand, iixed and adjustable spindles mounted ou they stand, means- :for driving one of the spindles, u countershatt geared to the other of the spindles, a brake on the countershaft, and manually operable means for applying the brake by which the pressure between the teethl of the intermeshing gears on the spindles may be varied as desired during operation of the machine.

.3. In a machine of the character described. a supporting stand, angularly disposed driving andl driven spindles mounted on the stand, means for detachably securing bevel gears to said spindles, means for adj listing one of the spindles relatively to the other to bring the bevel gears into mesh, means t'or driving the driving spindle, a. eou'ntershaft, gearing between the countershattand driven spindle adapted to drive the countershatt at a rate of speed higherthan that of the spindle, a brake on said countershaft, and manually operable means for applying the brake by which the pressure between the teeth of the intermeshing gears on the spindles may be varied as dei sired during operation'of the machine.

L1. In a machine of the character described, a supporting st-and, 'angularly disposed driving and driven spindles mounted Von the stand, means for detachably but rigidly securing bevel gears to the spindles, means for adjusting one of the spindles longitudinally and transversely with respect to the other to bring the gears thereon into mesh and to vary intermeshing` engagement thereof, means tor driving one of the spindles, and guard plates securedto the stand at the rear of each of the bevel gears, said plates having flanges extending' outwardly over the peripheries of the gears.

5. Inl a machine of the character described, a supporting stand` a spindlemountlll ed on said stand, means for detachably but rigidly securing a bevel gearrto said spindle, a carriage mounted for lineargrnovement on -the stand, a spindle mounted for linear idly securing a bevel gear `to said` spindle,

means for adjusting said carriage and spin-` dle lto bring the gears `into adjusted mesh-4 ing engagement and for rigidly securing the carriage and spindle in adjusted position,

means i'or driving one of the spindles, and

thereof adjacent, means tor adjusting one' of the spindles longitudinally of itsaxis and in a direction at rightangles thereto, means i'or detachably fixing bevel gears to the inner ends of the spindles, guards mounted behind each o'i the gears, saidV guards having portions overhaiiging the peripheries or' the gears, and means for driving one of the spindles. j

7. Inm a machine of the character described, a supporting stand, a housing fixed thereto, a guard in the form of a plate secured to vthe inner tace ot the housing, a

r spindle mounted in the housing, said spindle projecting through lie guard, a second housing adjustably mounted on the stand, the inner tace of the second housing being at right angles to the inner face of the iirst, a guard in the torni ot a plate secured to the inner iace oi the adjustable housing, a spindle carried by the adjustable housing and having its inner end projecting through the guard plate, means for detachably fixing bevel gears to the spindles outside the guards, said guards having flanges overlying the peripheries of the bevel gears.

8. In a device of the character described` a supporting stand, a `pair of relatively adjustable housings mounted on the stand, said housings having inner faces disposed at right angles with respect to each other, spindles mounted in said housings, said spindles projecting beyond the inner faces of the housing, means for clamping a bevel ring gear to the projecting end of one of the spindles, means for clamping a small driving bevel gear to the other of the spindles, guards secured to the housings behind the gears, said guards having outwardly extending flanges along their upper and outer side edges overlying the gears, and a drip pan beneath the gears and guards.

9. In a device of the character described,

a supporting stand, a pair of relatively vad-` ustable housings mounted on the stand, said ousings having inner faces disposed at right angles with respect to each other, spindles mounted in said housings, said spindles projecting beyond the inner faces of the housings, means for clamping a bevel ring gear to the projecting inner end of one of the spindles, means for clamping a small driving bevel gear to the inner end of the other of the spindles, guard plates secured to the "housings behind the respective gears, said guard plates having flanges overlying the peripheries of the gears, a disk secure to the spindle carrying the small geaiysaid diskbeing' securedimmediately behind the gear and covering the opening in the guard plate throughwhicli the spindle projects.

l0. In a machine, of the character de-` scribed, a supporting stand, a carriage mounted lor linear movement on` the stand,

alead screw for adjusting the carriage, a" `hoiising' mounted for linear movementnonV the carriage in a directionat right angles to the direction of movement oi' the carriage, a lead screw for adjusting the housing, hand wheels fixed to the lead screws, said hand wheelshaving graduated rims, a

fixed pointer cooperating with each of the graduated rims, means for clamping the carriage and housing in adjusted positions, a spindle carried by said housing, means for clamping al bevel gear thereto, a ixed spindie mounted on the stand at an angle to the iirst mentioned spindle, means for clamping a bevel gear to the lixed spindle in a position where the first mentioned gear may be adjusted into meshing engagement therewith, means :tor driving one spindle, and

means Afor iinpeding the rotation of the other spindle. v

il. In ajinacliine of` the character described, a supporting stand, a tubular spindle jouriialed therein, said spindle having an opening therethrough tapered toward its outer end, a clamping head, having a tubular tapered shank fitting inthe tapered opening of the tubular spindle, a centering disk secured to the out'er face of the head and adapted to fit within a ring gear, a

l clamping disk adapted to clamp a ring gear to said head, a clamping rod secured to the engagement with the ring gear. v `12. In a machine of the character described, al supporting stand, a housing mounted thereon for angular adjustment about a vertical axis, means for rigidly securing said housing in adjusted position, a

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spindle journaled in said housing, means `for detachably securing a gear to said spindle, a second housing movably 'mounted on the stand, a spindle journaled in the second housinir and extending at an an le to the first spindle, means for detachab y securing a gear to the second spindle, means for adjusting the second housing longitudinally or transversely with respect to said first spindle to bring the gears onthe spindles into mesh, driving means connected with one of said spindles, and means for imposing varyingV loads on the other spindle.

18,. In a machiney of the character described, a supporting stand, a housing mounted thereon, said housing being adjustable vertically and angularly about a vertical axis, means for rigidly securing said housing in adjusted position, a spindle journaled in said housing, means -for detachably securing a gear to said spindle, a second housing movably mounted on the stand, a. second spindle journaled in the second housing and extending at an angle to the first mentioned spindle, means for detachably securing a gear tothe second spindle, means for a justing the second housing longitudinally or transversely with respect to the first spindle to bring the gears into mesh,l

means for rigidly securing the second housing in adjusted position, means for driving one spindle, and means for imposing varying loads on the other spindle. Y

In testimony whereof, I hereunto ahx my signature.

DAVID F. DOMIZI. 

